BROOKLYN, NY — Last week, Luis Mario Sangurima, 37, was killed in a car crash in Bed-Stuy.
Sangurima, an Ecuadorian immigrant, had not been home in many years and had planned to return for Christmas to be with his wife and three children, his brother-in-law Danny Sumba told Patch.
Now, his family is fundraising to bring his body back to Ecuador.
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“He was very friendly, and he always made a lot of friends,” Sumba said. “Every time he called me, he would always try to help me with anything, with support, or money, or whatever he could help with.”
Sangurima worked in construction and was on the job as a traffic-flagger on Myrtle Ave., between Walworth Street and Sandford Street in Bed-Stuy, on Oct. 29 just before 2 p.m. when he was hit by a speeding white 2023 Ford transit van, police said.
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He was rushed to Woodhull Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after, according to the NYPD.
Clyde Mercury, the driver, was arrested and has been accused of criminally negligent homicide, reckless endangerment, reckless driving, and failure to exercise due care, the police said.
“Oh my god, it was not easy to let his sister know,” Sumba said. “It’s very hard. Very hard.”
Sumba said the funeral is Nov. 10 in Brooklyn, and then Sangurima will be flown home to Ecuador.
The GoFundMe has a goal of $12,000 to cover the funeral, transportation and burial costs, and 65 people have donated as of Nov. 8, raising $4,360.
Learn more here.
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